Articles
REGULATION OF LARGE SCALE EMBRYOGENESIS IN CELERY
Research concentrated on improving embryogenesis (quality and quantity), early identification of embryogenic potential, factors controlling synchronous cultures, embryo storage, and plantlet establishment.
The addition of mannitol (4%) to the medium increased the number of embryos and the rate of growth during embryo development, and produced more singular embryos.
Synchronization of somatic embryos was induced by adding ABA to the regeneration medium, and by segregating embryos through serial mesh screens.
Embryo cultures became more synchronous following one week of treatment with ABA. When ABA was removed from the growth medium, its effect became quickly transient.
Studies on the growth kinetics of embryos in cell suspensions showed that the most efficient means of producing large numbers of uniform embryos was by differential sieving.
Embryo conversion to plantlets was highly efficient when plantlets were first developed in suspension culture, and globular somatic embryos were converted to plantlets with 100% success.
Embryos were then transferred to paper bridges with liquid medium, or to an agar based medium.
Modifications of the agar medium allowed easier penetration and better aeration of the roots.
Eighty-eight percent of these plantlets were successfully hardened and survived in the field.
Somatic embryos survived well, when stored slightly moistened at 4°C. Embryos could grow and regenerate following 24 weeks of cold-storage.
The regenerated plants were identical to plants from non-stored embryos.